Example 1

Tom undertook a 30 day vocational placement at an advertising company as part of his marketing degree. He really enjoyed the work and had become involved in a major campaign the company was working on. The manager of the advertising company offered Tom the opportunity to continue the arrangement over the semester break so he could see the campaign through to the end. Tom agreed and worked unpaid for 3 weeks over the semester break.

As the extra work performed over the semester break was't a requirement of Tom's marketing degree, it did not form part of the vocational placement. If Tom was completing productive work during the 3 week period, it would be likely that he would be an employee and entitled to be paid for the work performed.

Example 2

Maria is a nurse who is planning a career change and is studying law. To get some experience in the legal industry, she offered to volunteer at a local law firm over her summer break to do basic legal research and help with clerical work. Maria attended the law firm for a few irregular hours every few weeks.

The arrangement provided minimal benefit to the law firm – it was mostly for Maria's benefit. There was no expectation that Maria worked productively or independently, and her output was not vital to the operation of the firm. Based on the circumstances of this arrangement, Maria wasn't an employee of the law firm and didn't need to be paid.

After a few months, the law firm asked Maria to work more regularly. She was given responsibility for parts of the firm's file administration, replacing the work that a clerical employee used to perform. The firm received a substantial benefit from this arrangement, as Maria was doing the same work as a clerical staff member.

These new responsibilities created an employment relationship, and Maria was entitled to be paid for her work at the appropriate minimum rate.

Example 3

Jonathon was a final year accounting student. He agreed to do unpaid work experience with an accountancy firm and had been promised employment once he graduated.

Jonathon attended the firm for three days a week. He did a range of productive jobs for the firm, including customer tax returns and company financials, which were both charged to clients.

Although Jonathon had agreed not to be paid, the nature of the arrangement was consistent with an employment relationship and he was entitled to be paid for all hours worked at the appropriate minimum rate.

Example 4

A recruiting firm placed an advertisement on the internet for graduates to work on a voluntary basis for one day a week over a 6 month period. The placement (not linked to any education or training course) offered hands on experience with a potential for job opportunities. The firm's HR manager explained that the placements were observational in nature, with no expectation of productive work. The successful candidates each signed agreements that detailed the training they would receive.

The graduates would observe the firm's consultants doing candidate selection and screening and sit in on interviews and reference checks. On occasions, the graduates did some hands on work under supervision, such as reading through applications, talking as a group about how they would shortlist the candidates, and doing mock interviews.

As there wasn't a significant benefit to the firm from the work, or any expectation to do productive work, there were no indicators of an employment relationship, which meant that the graduates didn't need to be paid.